Oreja de Judas (Auricularia auricula-judae)

Auricularia auricula-judae has been used as a medicinal fungus by many herbalists. It was used as a poultice to treat inflammations of the eye,[14] as well as a palliative for throat problems.[7] The 16th-century herbalist John Gerard, writing in 1597, recommended A. auricula-judae for a very specific use; other fungi were used more generally. He recommends the preparation of a liquid extract by boiling the fruit bodies in milk, or else leaving them steeped in beer, which would then be sipped slowly in order to cure a sore throat.[7] The resultant broth was probably not dissimilar to the Chinese soups that use Auricularia cornea.